4 Fabulous OOTDs from Daisy Designer Studio & Fabrics

 

“Every day is a fashion show and the world is the runway.” ~ Coco Chanel

You can never underestimate the way a great outfit can make you feel about yourself and the world around you. Confidence, happiness, high self-esteem gets magnified when you wear a great outfit.

Comfort and personal style should never be compromised when you are choosing Outfit Of The Day. Daisy Designer Studio and Fabrics is the perfect destination for designer clothes for every occasion. Take a look at the 4 fabulous OOTDs from Daisy Designer Studio & Fabrics:

1.Monday Work Wear

This blue outfit from the house of Daisy Designer Studios will help you beat the Monday Blues. You can also team it with jeans or leggings. The button embellishments make the outfit look smart and professional. Pull your hair up for an updo.

As I run my online academy from my home office, this outfit has been my favorite work outfit for its style and comfort. It makes me feel powerful and happy. What worked for me most are the side pockets, the round neck and the designer sleeves. 

2.Pink Florals

This pink kurti is a boon for the summer season. Made of cotton, it provides great comfort. With soft floral prints, the kurti makes you feel feminine and beautiful. Team it with leggings or palazzo pants when you are hanging out with your friends. 

3. Evening Elegance

If you have a family get-together at home, you can opt for this ankle-length kurti with long jacket. The tangerine sleeveless kurta gown is made of lightweight material that feels soft on the skin.

The jacket is beautifully embellished to make sure you exude elegance. Accessorize the gorgeous outfit with silver jhumkas to be a head-turner. 

4.Sequin Sparkle

This gorgeous black, red, and golden sequin dress from the house of Daisy Designer Studio and Fabrics is ideal for parties. The calf-length sequin dress will make you shine and sparkle like never before.

Accessorize with long red dangler earrings, clutch bag, and high heels to be an absolute head-turner. 

You can shop for these looks on the Instagram Page of Daisy Designer Studio. 

About the Mastermind behind Daisy Designer Studio & Fabrics

Deepa Thakkar is a brilliant fashion designer and a fashion stylist. Her passion for wearing and designing fashionable clothes had led to her venture of Daisy Designer Studio. Her studio is named after her daughter, Daisy Thakkar.

A very well-dressed person herself, she understands what women of all ages are looking for in their wardrobe. 

She never stops experimenting with her designs. And that is the reason why her outfits are loved by so many women. 

Her contentment lies in the satisfaction of her customers. Today, she has customers from not only all over India but also from all over the world. 

So if you want to look like a fashion diva, you must check out the products of Daisy Designer Studio.

If you are in Ahmedabad, please do visit the store. 

If you are not in Ahmedabad, you can order online. Happy Shopping!

 

4 Must-Read Books on Feminism

 

Reading books on Feminism can help us understand feminism as a movement and how it had evolved through the centuries. Feminism is based on two premises:

(I)Gender difference is the foundation of structural inequality between men and women due to which women suffer social injustice.

(II)The inequality between the sexes is not because of biological necessity but it is produced by the cultural construction of gender differences.

Feminism demands equality between men and women. Here are the 4 must-read books that will help you understand feminism:

A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

It was published on 1929. Woolf was invited to give a lecture on the topic of Women and Fiction in a college for women. She reached the conclusion that "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction." Woolf observed that women colleges were under-funded and women were not given nutritious food. This is completely opposite to that of men’s colleges.

She wonders if Shakespeare had a talented sister, what the chances of her exploring her talent in patriarchal Elizabethan age were. She points out that a woman writer lives under constant pressure from patriarchy which often pushes women writers, (their novels & characters) to the point of insanity. In the end, Woolf tells women that they should work toward having five hundred pounds a year and a room of their own in which to write to produce works of genius.

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

Published in 1949, this essay talks about how women have been treated throughout history. Women are defined in relation to men; not the other way about. This results in inequality.

Men go out into the world to impose their will on it, whereas women are doomed to inwardness. He creates, acts, invents; she waits for him to save her. Beauvoir researches how women got this inferior status in society. Although she finds plenty of examples of female subordination in history, she cannot find any justification for it.

She says that women are not born “feminine” but shaped by a thousand external processes. She shows how, at each stage of her upbringing, a girl is conditioned into accepting passivity, dependence, repetition, and inwardness. In the end, she gives a solution on how women canget rid of ‘the second sex’ status in society.

We Should all be Feminists by  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Published in 2014 and based on the famous Tedx talk of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, this book is a must read.

The personal, eloquently argued essay offers readers a unique definition of feminism for the 21st century, one that is rooted in inclusion and awareness. The author draws extensively from her own experiences and her deep understanding of the often masked realities of sexual politics.

She states: ‘I would like to ask that we begin to dream about and plan for a different world. A fairer world. A world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves. And this is how to start: we must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently…’

A very powerful and relevant book on feminism that is only 64 pages long.

Seeing Like a Feminist by Nivedita Menon

Published in 2012, Seeing Like a Feminist talks about a wide range of things. The author states that feminism is not about a single moment of final triumph over patriarchy but about the gradual transformation of society.

She talks about sexual harassment charges against international figures, challenges that caste politics poses to feminism, feminist dilemmas regarding surrogacy, the ban on the veil in France, the attempt to impose skirts on international women badminton players and several other topics. This book will help you understand how to look at the various issues of the world as a feminist and how it can make a difference.

Having a better understanding and knowledge of feminism can help us fight patriarchy better. So, do check out these amazing books and have an enriching read. 

"This post is part of Blogchatter's CauseAChatter"

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.’ 

Why do so many Women refuse to call themselves Feminists?

 

While researching for this article, I learned that less than 1 out of 5 women like to call themselves ‘feminists' in the USA. I have often seen my closest friends and acquaintances shy away from calling themselves a feminist. When I ask them if they support the equality of men and women, they reply in the affirmative but they do not want to be labeled as feminists.

The Cambridge dictionary meaning of ‘feminism’ is the belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way.

Then why do so many women refuse to call themselves feminists? The nagging question in my mind made me find out all the probable reasons why most women support equality and yet stay away from the term ‘feminism’. Let’s take a look at all the reasons:

1.     Wrong or Inadequate knowledge

 

Some women believe that feminism is all about hating men. Wrong or inadequate knowledge is one of the reasons women refuse to call themselves feminists. They think that feminism is only restricted to women which is not the case. Feminism is not against men. It is against inequality and against patriarchy. Every woman should read about the movement called ‘feminism’ and educate herself before taking a decision.

 

2.     ‘Feminism’ is confused with ‘Feminazi’

 

Feminism is about the equality of men and women. Feminazi is about the superiority of women. A feminazi can be violent towards men. They blame men for everything and also blame women who disagree with their ideals. Feminism has nothing to do with Feminazi. Often women get confused and think ‘feminazi’ to be ‘feminism’ and therefore, they do not want to call themselves feminists.

 

3.     Internalizing patriarchy

 

Some women have internalized patriarchy so deeply that the concept of equality of men and women seems ridiculous to them. Simone de Beauvoir in her book ‘TheSecond Sex’ explained it beautifully why sometimes women trade freedom for security and are comfortable being the second sex.

 

4.     Competitiveness among women

 

The first rule of feminism is women should help and empower other women. Simone de Beauvoir has talked about the importance of gender loyalty in order to dismantle patriarchy. Some women simply cannot tolerate the success of other women. There is so much jealousy and competitiveness. They would rather celebrate the success of a man than someone who belongs to the same gender. 

 

5.     Feminist is often confused with ‘careerist’

 

Many women feel that in order to be feminists, they have to be career women. They think that stay-at-home mothers and homemakers cannot be feminists. This is not true at all. Feminism is the belief that men and women should have equal rights. Anyone supporting that belief is a feminist. It is not limited to working women.

 

6.     Stereotypes associated with ‘Feminist’

 

Sadly, feminists are labeled with a lot of stereotypes by the patriarchal society. Feminists are often thought of as spinsters, men-hating women, lesbians, women lacking femininity, women not wearing makeup and shaving legs and so much more. These stereotypes often repel many women from calling themselves, feminists.

So, these are the reasons why so many women refuse to call themselves feminists. I hope awareness of these reasons helps women change their minds and make them embrace the term ‘feminist’ without any shame or guilt. 

"This post is part of Blogchatter's CauseAChatter"

Zen and Solitude (Magic and Alchemy)

 

You do not have to

embark on a pilgrimage

to attain self-realization

when the one you are

searching is sitting within you.

Make Zen, your lifestyle

solitude, your ally

faith, your armor

discipline, your mantra

scriptures, your catalyst;

Now embark on the 

magical journey within 

Keep going till 

you have the epiphany~

The Creator is in the Creation

The Creator is in you as

well as in every other Creation of his

You are one with the Universe

There is no you and I

All the rivers, no matter how different

merge with the same Ocean;

We all have come from the same Source

and will merge there at the end of time.

Purba Chakraborty

30.04.2021

 I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z

 

Your Breath on My Neck (Magic and Alchemy)

 

It's been long

Yet I still remember

your breath on my neck,

erupting constellation of

stars on my body;

your lips close to my ears

kissing my name

enveloped in 

whispers and sighs, 

making me feel I am 

your entire galaxy. 

Yes, it's been long

we are light years away

but a love like that

is like counting stars

on the sky every night

without ever getting tired. 

Purba Chakraborty

29.04.2021

 I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z

6 Quotes and Takeaways from The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

 

'The Second Sex' by Simone de Beauvoir was published in 1949 after the second world war ended. It was the starting point of second-wave feminism.

The essay explores the way in which women have been treated throughout history and how gender conditioning governs the life of a woman. 

I recently studied this essay and felt that the points discussed in the essay are so much relevant even today.

Here are 6 quotes and takeaways from the revolutionary essay "The Second Sex":

1. “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.”

Simone de Beauvoir states that women are not born 'feminine' but are shaped that way by a thousand external processes. At each stage of her upbringing, a girl is conditioned into being docile, soft-spoken, dependent, and passive. Society tries to flatten the girl into an object so that she can accept the life of housework and childbearing without ever protesting. The girl will think that to be her very duty, the reason she is born.

2. ..her wings are cut and then she is blamed for not knowing how to fly.”

Simone de Beauvoir says that the situation of a woman is not a result of her character. If we find a woman who rarely has any material accomplishments, is labeled as lazy, mediocre, and complacent, it simply means that these are the consequences of the way she has been brainwashed by society. Her wings were cut during her growing up years and now she is criticized for not knowing how to fly. 

3. “Women's mutual understanding comes from the fact that they identify themselves with each other, but for the same reason each is against the others.”

Simone de Beauvoir beautifully said that women need to develop gender loyalty in order to dismantle patriarchy. One of the reasons why women's movements lose power is because women do not have great gender loyalties. The biggest proof is how society pits the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law against each other. Women need to recognize these patterns and develop gender loyalty because united we stand, divided we fall.

4. “That the child is the supreme aim of woman is a statement having precisely the value of an advertising slogan.”

Simone de Beauvoir stated that throughout history, maternity has been both worshipped and criticized - the mother both brings life and brings death. The woman is transformed into a symbol of 'life' and in that process, she is robbed of all individuality. It is expected that women are born to give birth, raise children and forget their own individuality to become great mothers. 

5. “And without a doubt it is more comfortable to endure blind bondage than to work for one's liberation; the dead, too, are better suited to the earth than the living.”

Simone de Beauvoir stated that at times, women support their own dependency and accept their second-class status without challenging it. Years of gender conditioning play a major role in it. Some women trade their freedom for security. Some women chose comfort over conquering. Only in work can a woman achieve autonomy and can support herself. But years of gender conditioning pushes many women to accept a life of bondage than fight for liberation. 

6. “Few tasks are more like the torture of Sisyphus than housework, with its endless repetition: the clean becomes soiled, the soiled is made clean, over and over, day after day.”

Simone de Beauvoir said that the difficulty of sacrificing security and comfort for some 'notion' of equality persuades many women to accept the unfulfilling roles in life. And she has beautifully described those roles by comparing them to the myth of Sisyphus. 

"The Second Sex" is a magnificent work in feminism that helps us understand how women have been treated in society for centuries, how women are conditioned, why women make different choices, and how not having great gender loyalty has prevented women from dismantling the patriarchy. 

"This post is part of Blogchatter's CauseAChatter"

eXtraordinary fall and rise (Magic and Alchemy)

 

The garden wears the 

color and ornaments of spring

The sky- a burst of vibrant colors

Messages of ardor concealed

in the pattern of clouds;

The world looks like Arcadia

Everything becomes extraordinary

when there is an explosion of

rainbow within the beating heart;

Feelings that are stars 

form a grand constellation

We realize how deep we have 

fallen in the ocean of love

let the ego burn into ashes

and risen like a phoenix

in the sky of spirituality. 

Purba Chakraborty

28.04.2021

 I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z

Wings (Magic and Alchemy)

 

My father had gifted me

a pair of magical wings~

Wings Of courage 

and determination

when he saw me dreaming

with open eyes for the first time.

I fastened those wings

with the glue of faith

ready to take my first flight

like the Greek craftsman, 

Deaedalus and his son, Icarus. 

My father told me to fly away

from every thing that

chained me  

caged me 

pulled me down

made me doubt myself

stopped me from

reaching my dreams~

rules of society

judgmental relatives

comfort of the known

fear of the unknown

habit of the routine.

"Yes! Fly as high as possible

Do not fear to be Icarus" he said,

"Your wings are glued 

by faith, not wax

Sun cannot melt them 

Storms cannot touch them."

The poem is inspired from the Greek mythological story of Daedalus and Icarus. You can check it out here

The poem is dedicated to my wonderful father. It is his birthday today! Happy Birthday Papa. All that I am is because of you! I love you the most. 

Purba Chakraborty

27.04.2021

 I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z

Valley of Nostalgia (Magic and Alchemy)

 

I find my way back again

to the alluring valley of nostalgia

Lit by fireflies of memories

Keepsakes sprouting like daffodils

The petrichor, night-jasmine

and other familiar aromas

inviting me in;

I hear the voice of loved ones

favorite childhood songs and jingles 

combined to form a delectable melody.

The valley of nostalgia

A bewitching, magnificent place

Present fades away

Unreal becomes real

Realm of magic realism.

I lay down on the valley

taking in all the beauty 

until the sun shines brightly,

jolting me out of my reverie.

The valley of nostalgia

is a magical place to be

but I have dreams to fulfill

songs to sing

stories to write

years to live. 

Purba Chakraborty

26.04.2021

 I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z

Unspoken, Unsent, Unfinished (Magic and Alchemy)

 

If only we could hear

the unspoken words,

swallowed just before they

could escape the trembling lips...

If only we could read

the unsent messages and letters

languishing in the draft folder

or crumpled up in a dusty corner...

We could dot the i's 

Cross the 't's

Prevent many stories

from staying unfinished

Prevent many connections

from fading into oblivion.

Alas! The white pages 

have long turned yellow

Yet the ship could not

reach its shore.

Purba Chakraborty

24.04.2021

 I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z